Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing video communications

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and apparatus for conducting a video conference. A location of one or more sets of eyes in an image may be determined. The relative location of an image capture device and/or a portion of a display device may be adjusted based on the determined location.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityto U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/828,132, filed on Aug. 17, 2015,entitled “METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING VIDEOCOMMUNICATIONS,” is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityto U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/944,420, filed on Jul. 17, 2013,entitled “METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING VIDEOCOMMUNICATIONS,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to image technologies, andmore specifically, in one example, to providing video conferencingcapabilities.

BACKGROUND

A wide variety of technologies have been developed for providingcommunications between users. Individuals may communicate over a varietyof networks utilizing different types of media, including text,graphics, audio, still images, video images, and the like. Thecommunications may be part of a video conferencing environmentcomprising both video and audio communications one example, twoindividuals may utilize a video conferencing system comprising a networkand two video conferencing terminals. Each video conferencing terminalmay be located in proximity to a user, or group of users, and maycomprise an audio capture device, such as a microphone, to capture audiocommunications and an image capture device, such as a still or videocamera, to capture image communications. The image communications maycomprise one or more still images, or may comprise a video streamcontaining a plurality of images. The video conferencing environment mayallow each individual participating in the conference call to view oneor more other individuals who are participating in the conference callat one or more remote locations. The individuals may be viewed on adisplay device, such as a projector screen, a liquid crystal delay, avideo monitor, a television set, a computer monitor, and the like. As anindividual is viewing a conference participant on a display device, animage of the individual may be captured and transferred to another videoconferencing terminal. Since the individual may be staring toward thedisplay device of the video conferencing terminal when the image iscaptured, the image captured by the camera may be at an angle to theindividual's face such that the individual may appear to be staring awayfrom the image capture device. A viewer of the captured image maytherefore be unable to make eye contact, or be unable to perceive makingeye contact, with the individual represented in the image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation inthe figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system, in accordance with anexample embodiment, for providing video conferencing between two or moreindividuals or groups of individuals;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example terminal device, in accordancewith an example embodiment, for providing video conferencingcapabilities to one or more individuals;

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a first example of a capture anddisplay apparatus for the example terminal device of FIG. 2, inaccordance with an example embodiment, for displaying and capturingimages of one or more individuals located in proximity to each other;

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of a top-side of the example capture anddisplay apparatus of FIG. 3A, in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of a second example of a capture anddisplay apparatus for the example terminal device of FIG. 2, inaccordance with an example embodiment, for displaying and capturingimages of one or more individuals participating in a video conference;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example control and communicationapparatus, in accordance with an example embodiment, for controlling thecapture of images and audio signals, and for communicating the capturedmedia content over a network;

FIG. 5 is an example flowchart for a method for controlling the captureof still images and/or video images, in accordance with an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 6 is an example representation of a user interface for performingvideo conferencing, in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an example flowchart for a method for a video conferencinguser interface, in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an example flowchart for a method for communicating mediacontent over a network, in accordance with an example embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of machine within which instructions may beexecuted for causing the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of example embodiments, referenceis made to specific examples by way of drawings and illustrations. Theseexamples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled inthe art to practice these example embodiments, and serve to illustratehow the invention may be applied to various purposes or embodiments.Other embodiments of the invention exist and are within the scope of theinvention, and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may bemade without departing from the scope or extent of the presentinvention. Features or limitations of various embodiments of theinvention described herein, however essential to the example embodimentsin which they are incorporated, do not limit the invention as a whole,and any reference to the invention, its elements, operation, andapplication do not limit the invention as a whole but serve only todefine these example embodiments. The following detailed descriptiondoes not, therefore, limit the scope of the invention, which is definedonly by the appended claims.

Generally, methods, systems, and apparatus for providing videocommunications are described. In one example embodiment, two or moreindividuals may conduct a video conference via a network. A videoconferencing terminal may be located in proximity to each individual orto a collocated group of individuals. Each video conferencing terminalmay comprise one or more of: an audio capture device, an image capturedevice, a display device for displaying still and/or video images, aspeaker or other device for playing audio signals, a communicationcontroller and a network interface. The audio capture device maycomprise a microphone or similar device. The image capture device maycomprise a video camera or similar device.

The video conferencing terminal may allow each individual participatingin the conference call to view and/or hear one or more other individualsparticipating in the conference call at one or more remote locations. Asan individual is viewing the display device, an image of the individualmay be captured by the image capture device and transferred to one ormore remote video conferencing terminals. In one example embodiment, thevideo conferencing terminal may be configured to capture an image of anindividual who is viewing a display device such that the individualappears to be staring toward the image capture device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system, in accordance with anexample embodiment, for providing video conferencing between two or moreindividuals or groups of individuals. In one example embodiment, thesystem 100 may comprise one or more video conferencing terminal devices108-1, 108-2, 108-3, and 108-N (terminal devices 108 hereinafter), agatekeeper 112, and a network 116. Each terminal device (e.g., 108-1)may comprise a personal computer (PC), a cellular phone, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), or any other appropriate computer device. Eachterminal device (108-1, 108-2 or 108-N) may include a capture anddisplay apparatus 300 for capturing and displaying images of individualsparticipating in a video conference, as described more fully below inconjunction with FIG. 3A, and may comprise a control and communicationapparatus 400 for controlling the capture of video images and audiosignals, and for communicating the captured media content over anetwork, as described more fully below in conjunction with FIG. 4. Inone example embodiment, the terminal device 108-1 may comprise a userinterface program. Although a detailed description is only illustratedfor terminal device 108-1, it is noted that each of the other terminaldevices (e.g., terminal device 108-2 through terminal device 108-N) mayhave corresponding elements with the same functionality.

The gatekeeper 112 may, for example, provide a registry for terminaldevices 108 and may perform address resolution for a video conferenceconnection request.

The network 116 may be a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan areanetwork (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless network, a networkof interconnected networks, the public switched telephone network(PSTN), and the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example terminal device 108, inaccordance with an example embodiment, for providing video conferencingcapabilities to one or more individuals participating in a videoconference. As described above, each terminal device (108-1, 108-2 or108-N) may include a capture and display apparatus 300 for displayingand capturing images of one or more individuals participating in a videoconference, as described more fully below in conjunction with FIG. 3A,and may comprise a control and communication apparatus 400 forcontrolling the capture of media content, and communicating the mediacontent over a network 116, as described more fully below in conjunctionwith FIG. 4. The capture and display apparatus 300 and the control andcommunication apparatus 400 may be located in the same enclosure, or maybe located in different enclosures. The capture and display apparatus300 may comprise a media capture device 204 and a display device 250.The media capture device 204 and the display device 250 may be locatedin a single enclosure, or may be split into multiple enclosures. Themedia capture device 204, the display device 250, and the capture anddisplay apparatus 300 may communicate via one or more networks 116and/or network links. The capture and display apparatus 300 and thecontrol and communication apparatus 400 may communicate via one or morenetworks 116 and/or network links.

As described above, the capture and display apparatus 300 may be locatedin a single enclosure, or may be split into multiple enclosures. Thecapture and display apparatus 300 may comprise a media capture device204 and a display device 250. Media capture device 204 may comprise anaudio capture device 214 and may comprise an image capture device 218.The audio capture device 214 may be a microphone and the like. The imagecapture device 218 may be a still image camera, a video camera, and thelike. In one example embodiment, a movement of the image capture device218 may be controlled such that a viewer of display device 250 appearsto be staring substantially directly at the image capture device 218. Inone example embodiment, a movement of the display device 250 or aportion of the display device 250 may be controlled such that a viewerof display device 250 appears to be staring substantially directly atthe image capture device 218. In one example embodiment, the motion ofthe image capture device 218 and/or a portion of the display device 250may be controlled by the control and communication apparatus 400.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a first example capture and displayapparatus 300, in accordance with an example embodiment, for capturingand displaying images, and capturing and playing audio signals of one ormore individuals participating in a video conference. As describedabove, the capture and display apparatus 300 may comprise the mediacapture device 204 and the display device 250. The display device 250may comprise an electronic screen 354. The electronic screen 354 may be,for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD). A glass pane 358 may beinstalled in front of the electronic screen 354. The glass pane 358 maybe installed at a substantially 45 degree angle from the electronicscreen 354. The glass pane 358 may be enhanced using known techniques toreflect light emitted in the direction of arrow 360 and may be enhancedusing known techniques to pass light emitted in the direction of arrow362. The image capture device 218 may be mounted in enclosure 340 asdepicted in FIG. 3A to capture an image reflected by glass pane 358 (asdepicted by arrow 360). An optional transparent, non-reflective screen370 may be installed as depicted in FIG. 3A. An individual may view theelectronic screen 354 through the optional non-reflective screen 370.The image capture device 218 may capture an image of the individualreflected by the glass pane 358.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of a top-side 342 of the example captureand display apparatus 300, in accordance with an example embodiment. Inone example embodiment, the image capture device 218 may be mounted onan optional image capture device carrier 378. The optional image capturedevice carrier 378 may be mounted on an optional track 374 such that theoptional image capture device carrier 378 may be moved to a selectedlocation on the surface of the top-side of enclosure 340. In one exampleembodiment, the optional track 374 enables the image capture device 218to move in a single dimension. In one example embodiment, the optionaltrack 374 enables the image capture device 218 to move in twodimensions. For example, the optional image capture device carrier 378may be moved to a location identified by an x and y coordinate on thetop-side 342 of enclosure 340.

FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of a second example 380 of a capture anddisplay apparatus 300, in accordance with an example embodiment, forcapturing and displaying images, and capturing and playing audio signalsof one or more individuals participating in a video conference. Asdescribed above, the capture and display apparatus 380 may comprise themedia capture device 204 and the display device 250. The components ofthe capture and display apparatus 380 are similar to the components ofthe capture and display apparatus 300. The glass pane 364 of the captureand display apparatus 380 is smaller than the glass pane 358 of thecapture and display apparatus 300 allowing for a slimmer enclosure 340.The glass pane 364 of the capture and display apparatus 380 may bemounted on one or more tracks (not shown in FIG. 3C) which enable theglass pane 364 to slide vertically in enclosure 340. The track for glasspane 364 may be similar to optional track 374 and may be verticallymounted on one horizontal sidewall of enclosure 340. In one exampleembodiment, the track for glass pane 364 may be similar to optionaltrack 374 and may be vertically mounted on each of the two horizontalsidewalls of enclosure 340.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example control and communicationapparatus 400, in accordance with an example embodiment, for controllingthe capture of images and audio signals, and communicating the capturedmedia content over a network. The control and communication apparatus400 is shown to include a processing system 402 that may be implementedon a client or other processing device that includes an operating system404 for executing software instructions.

In accordance with an example embodiment, the control and communicationapparatus 400 may include an image capture controller module 406, acommunication controller and interface module 410, a terminal userinterface module 414, an image encoder and decoder module 418, and anaudio encoder and decoder module 422. In accordance with an exampleembodiment, the control and communication apparatus 400 may furtherinclude a device data storage interface 426.

The image capture controller module 406 may identify the location of oneor more sets of eyes in a captured image and may control the location ofthe electronic screen 354, the glass pane 358, 364, and/or the imagecapture device 218.

The communication controller and interface module 410 may transfer thecaptured still images or video to the network 116, may transfer thecaptured audio signal(s) to the network 116, may transfer still imagesor video received from the network 116 to the image encoder and decodermodule 418, and may transfer audio signals received from the network 116to the audio encoder and decoder module 422.

The terminal user interface module 414 may provide a user interface forestablishing, controlling, executing, and terminating a videoconference, as described below in conjunction with FIGS. 6 and 7.

The image encoder and decoder module 418 may compress and/or encodestill images and/or video. The image encoder and decoder module 418 mayalso decode still images and/or video received from the network 116 andmay display the decoded still images and/or video on the electronicscreen 354.

The audio encoder and decoder module 422 may decode audio signalsreceived from the network 116 and play the processed audio signals via aspeaker system. The audio encoder and decoder module 422 may encodeaudio signals captured by audio capture device 214 and transfer theencoded audio to the network 116.

FIG. 5 is an example flowchart for a method 500 for controlling thecapture of still images and/or video images, in accordance with anexample embodiment. In one example embodiment, one or more of theoperations of the method 500 may be performed by the image capturecontroller module 406.

In one example embodiment, an image of the user(s) may be captured(operation 504). The captured image may be analyzed to identify alocation of one or more sets of eyes of one or more users in a knownmanner (operation 508). For example, the x and y coordinates of one ormore sets of eyes in the captured image may be determined.

A test may be performed to determine a count of sets of eyes identifiedduring operation 508 (operation 512). If the determined count equalszero, the method may proceed to operation 504. If the determined countequals one (indicating one individual is captured in the image), themethod may proceed to operation 516. If the determined count equals twoor more (indicating two or more individuals are captured in the image),the method may proceed to operation 520.

In one example embodiment, the image capture device 218 may be moved toa position based on the identified location of the set of eyes(operation 516). In one example embodiment, the image capture device 218may be moved to the x and y coordinates of the identified location. Inone example embodiment, the image capture device 218 may be moved to thex-coordinate of the identified location and to the y-coordinate thatplaces the captured set of eyes substantially two-thirds of the distancefrom the bottom of the image toward the top of the image. In one exampleembodiment, the glass pane 364 may be moved to the x and y coordinatescorresponding to the identified location. In one example embodiment, theglass pane 364 may be moved to the x-coordinate of the identifiedlocation and to the y-coordinate that places the captured set of eyessubstantially two-thirds of the distance from the bottom of the imagetoward the top of the image. The method may then proceed to operation504.

During operation 520, the captured image and/or captured audio isanalyzed to determine the location of the individual who is currentlyspeaking or who spoke last. The location of the individual who iscurrently speaking or who spoke last may be determined, for example, byanalyzing the facial movements of each individual captured in the imagein a known manner, and/or by analyzing a direction of the source of thespeech in a known manner. For example, a plurality of microphones may beused to capture audio (including speech by the users) and the relativeamplitude of each audio signal may be analyzed in a known manner todetermine a direction of the audio source and thereby determine the userwho is speaking. The method may then proceed to operation 524.

During operation 524, the image capture device 218 may be moved to aposition based on the identified location of the sets of eyes. Asdescribed above in regard to operation 516, in one example embodiment,the image capture device 218 may be moved to the x and y coordinates ofthe identified location. In one example embodiment, the image capturedevice 218 may be moved to the x-coordinate of the identified locationand to the y-coordinate that places the captured set of eyessubstantially two-thirds of the distance from the bottom of the imagetoward the top of the image. In one example embodiment, the glass pane364 may be moved to the x and y coordinates of the identified location.In one example embodiment, the glass pane 364 may be moved to thex-coordinate of the identified location and to the y-coordinate thatplaces the captured set of eyes substantially two-thirds of the distancefrom the bottom of the image toward the top of the image. The method maythen proceed to operation 528.

During operation 528, the image capture device 218 may be panned towardthe individual who is speaking or who last spoke. In one exampleembodiment, the image capture device 218 may be panned toward theindividual who is speaking or who last spoke until the location of theset of eyes of the speaking individual is in the horizontal center ofthe captured image. The method may then proceed to operation 504.

In one example embodiment, the operations beginning at operation 504 maybe repeated as the video conference progresses. For example, operations504 to 516 or operations 504 to 528 may be repeated every second duringthe video conference. In one example embodiment, the changes to the xand y coordinates of the identified set(s) of eyes may be passed througha low pass filter in order, for example, to reduce the amount of motionof the image capture device 218, the portion of the display device 250,and/or glass pane 358, 364.

FIG. 6 is an example representation of a user interface 600 forperforming video conferencing, in accordance with an example embodiment.In one example embodiment, the user interface 600 may be provided by theterminal device 108-1 in conjunction with the terminal user interfacemodule 414. The user interface 600 may comprise a conference participantselection field 604, a conference connection request radio button 608,an incoming call indicator 612, a conference connection acceptance radiobutton 616, and a conference connection termination radio button 620. Animage display area 632 may display a copy of the image displayed onelectronic screen 354.

FIG. 7 is an example flowchart for a method 700 for a video conferencinguser interface, in accordance with an example embodiment. In one exampleembodiment, one or more of the operations of the method 700 may beperformed by the terminal user interface module 414.

In one example embodiment, a user may initiate a video conference byselecting one or more conference participants via the conferenceparticipant selection field 604 and selecting the conference connectionrequest radio button 608. The selections may be obtained duringoperation 704. A request to establish the video conferencing connectionmay be submitted to, for example, the communication controller andinterface module 410 (operation 708). Upon establishment of the videoconferencing connection, the video conference may be conducted and thevideo may be displayed on the display device 250. The user may terminatethe video conference by selecting the conference connection terminationradio button 620. In response to the user selecting the conferenceconnection termination radio button 620, a request to terminate thevideo conferencing connection may be submitted to, for example, thecommunication controller and interface module 410 (operation 712).

In one example embodiment, an incoming request for a video conferencemay be indicated by incoming call indicator 612. The user may accept theincoming connection request by selecting the conference connectionacceptance radio button 616. In response to the user selecting theconference connection acceptance radio button 616, a request toestablish the video conferencing connection may be submitted to, forexample, the communication controller and interface module 410(operation 708). Upon establishment of the video conferencingconnection, the video conference may be conducted and the video may bedisplayed on the display device 250. The user may terminate the videoconference by selecting the conference connection termination radiobutton 620. In response to the user selecting the conference connectiontermination radio button 620, a request to terminate the videoconferencing connection may be submitted to, for example, thecommunication controller and interface module 410 (operation 712).

FIG. 8 is an example flowchart for a method 800 for communicating videoimages over a network, in accordance with an example embodiment. In oneexample embodiment, one or more of the operations of the method 800 maybe performed by the communication controller and interface module 410.

In response to receiving a request to establish a video conferencingconnection, an admission request message may be sent to the gatekeeper112 with which the terminal device 108-1 is registered (operation 804).A test may be performed to determine if an admission confirm message isreceived from the gatekeeper 112 (operation 808). If an admissionconfirm message is not received within a predefined time period, anerror message may be generated (operation 812) and the method mayproceed to operation 804. If an admission confirm message is receivedwithin the predefined time period, the address of the remote terminaldevice 108-2 may be parsed from the admission confirm message and asetup request message may be sent to the remote terminal device 108-2(operation 816). A test may be performed to determine if a connectmessage is received from the remote terminal device 108-2 (operation820). If an admission confirm message is not received within apredefined time period, an error message may be generated (operation812) and the method may proceed to operation 804. If an admissionconfirm message is received within the predefined time period, thetransmission of the media content to the remote terminal device 108-2and the reception of the media content from the remote terminal device108-2 may be commenced (operation 824). A test may be performed todetermine if a termination request has been received (operation 828).During the test operation (operation 828), the transmission of the mediacontent to the remote terminal device 108-2 and the reception of themedia content from the remote terminal device 108-2 may continue to beperformed. In response to receiving a request to terminate the videoconferencing connection, a connection termination message may be sent tothe remote terminal device 108-2 (operation 832), and a sessiontear-down procedure may be performed in a known manner. The method maythen end.

Although certain examples are shown and described here, other variationsexist and are within the scope of the invention. It will be appreciatedby those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which isdesigned or arranged to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to coverany adaptations or variations of the example embodiments of theinvention described herein. It is intended that this invention belimited only by the claims, and the full scope of equivalents thereof.

Modules, Components and Logic

Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic or a numberof components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules may constitute eithersoftware modules (e.g., code embodied (1) on a non-transitorymachine-readable medium or (2) in a transmission signal) orhardware-implemented modules. A hardware-implemented module is atangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may beconfigured or arranged in a certain manner. In example embodiments, oneor more computer systems (e.g., a standalone, client or server computersystem) or one or more processors may be configured by software (e.g.,an application or application portion) as a hardware-implemented modulethat operates to perform certain operations as described herein.

In various embodiments, a hardware-implemented module may be implementedmechanically or electronically. For example, a hardware-implementedmodule may comprise dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanentlyconfigured (e.g., as a special-purpose processor, such as a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC)) to perform certain operations. A hardware-implementedmodule may also comprise programmable logic or circuitry (e.g., asencompassed within a general-purpose processor or other programmableprocessor) that is temporarily configured by software to perform certainoperations. It will be appreciated that the decision to implement ahardware-implemented module mechanically, in dedicated and permanentlyconfigured circuitry, or in temporarily configured circuitry (e.g.,configured by software) may be driven by cost and time considerations.

Accordingly, the term “hardware-implemented module” should be understoodto encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physicallyconstructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired) or temporarily ortransitorily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certainmanner and/or to perform certain operations described herein.Considering embodiments in which hardware-implemented modules aretemporarily configured (e.g., programmed), each of thehardware-implemented modules need not be configured or instantiated atany one instance in time. For example, where the hardware-implementedmodules comprise a general-purpose processor configured using software,the general-purpose processor may be configured as respective differenthardware-implemented modules at different times. Software mayaccordingly configure a processor, for example, to constitute aparticular hardware-implemented module at one instance of time and toconstitute a different hardware-implemented module at a differentinstance of time.

Hardware-implemented modules can provide information to, and receiveinformation from, other hardware-implemented modules. Accordingly, thedescribed hardware-implemented modules may be regarded as beingcommunicatively coupled. Where multiples of such hardware-implementedmodules exist contemporaneously, communications may be achieved throughsignal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuits and buses thatconnects the hardware-implemented modules). In embodiments in whichmultiple hardware-implemented modules are configured or instantiated atdifferent times, communications between such hardware-implementedmodules may be achieved, for example, through the storage and retrievalof information in memory structures to which the multiplehardware-implemented modules have access. For example, onehardware-implemented module may perform an operation and store theoutput of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware-implemented module may then,at a later time, access the memory device to retrieve and process thestored output. Hardware-implemented modules may also initiatecommunications with input or output devices, and can operate on aresource (e.g., a collection of information).

The various operations of example methods described herein may beperformed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented modulesthat operate to perform one or more operations or functions. The modulesreferred to herein may, in some example embodiments, compriseprocessor-implemented modules.

Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented. For example, at least some of the operations of amethod may be performed by one or processors or processor-implementedmodules. The performance of certain of the operations may be distributedamong the one or more processors, not only residing within a singlemachine, but deployed across a number of machines. In some exampleembodiments, the processor or processors may be located in a singlelocation (e.g., within a home environment, an office environment or as aserver farm), while in other embodiments the processors may hedistributed across a number of locations.

The one or more processors may also operate to support performance ofthe relevant operations in a “cloud computing” environment or as a“software as a service” (SaaS). For example, at least some of theoperations may be performed by a group of computers (as examples ofmachines including processors), these operations being accessible via anetwork (e.g., the Internet) and via one or more appropriate interfaces(e.g., application program interfaces (APIs).)

Electronic Apparatus and System

Example embodiments may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry,or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them.Example embodiments may be implemented using a computer program product,e.g., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier,e.g., in a machine-readable medium for execution by, or to control theoperation of data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor,a computer, or multiple computers.

A computer program can be written in any form of programming language,including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed inany form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, subroutine,or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computerprogram can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiplecomputers at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

In example embodiments, operations may be performed by one or moreprogrammable processors executing a computer program to performfunctions by operating on input data and generating output. Methodoperations can also be performed by, and apparatus of exampleembodiments may be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry,e.g., a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC).

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other. Inembodiments deploying a programmable computing system, it will beappreciated that both hardware and software architectures requireconsideration. Specifically, it will be appreciated that the choice ofwhether to implement certain functionality in permanently configuredhardware (e.g., an ASIC), in temporarily configured hardware (e.g., acombination of software and a programmable processor), or a combinationof permanently and temporarily configured hardware may be a designchoice. Below are set out hardware (e.g., machine) and softwarearchitectures that may be deployed, in various example embodiments.

Example Machine Architecture and Machine-Readable Medium

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a machine within which instructions may beexecuted for causing the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein. In one example embodiment, the machinemay be the terminal device 108. in one example embodiment, the machinemay be the control and communication apparatus 400. In alternativeembodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or may beconnected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peermachine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. Themachine may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box(STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a webappliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable ofexecuting instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions tobe taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include anycollection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

The example computer system 900 includes a processor 902 (e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU) orboth), a main memory 904 and a static memory 906, which communicate witheach other via a bus 908. The computer system 900 may further include avideo display unit 910 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or acathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 900 also includes analphanumeric input device 912 (e.g., a keyboard), a user interface (UI)navigation device 914 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 916, a signalgeneration device 918 (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device920.

Machine-Readable Medium

The drive unit 916 includes a machine-readable medium 922 on which isstored one or more sets of instructions and data structures (e.g.,software) 924 embodying or utilized by any one or more of themethodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 924 mayalso reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory904 and/or within the processor 902 during execution thereof by thecomputer system 900, the main memory 904 and the processor 902 alsoconstituting machine-readable media. Instructions may also reside withinthe static memory 906.

While the machine-readable medium 922 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” may include asingle medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributeddatabase, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one ormore instructions or data structures. The term “machine-readable medium”shall also be taken to include any tangible medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present invention, or that is capable of storing,encoding or carrying data structures utilized by or associated with suchinstructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly betaken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, andoptical and magnetic media. Specific examples of machine-readable mediainclude non-volatile memory, including, by way of example, semiconductormemory devices, e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and flashmemory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removabledisks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

Transmission Medium

The instructions 924 may further be transmitted or received over acommunications network 926 using a transmission medium. The instructions924 may be transmitted using the network interface device 920 and anyone of a number of well-known transfer protocols (e.g., HTTP). Examplesof communication networks include a local area network (“LAN”), a widearea network (“WAN”), the Internet, mobile telephone networks, plain oldtelephone (POTS) networks, and wireless data networks (e.g., WiFi andWiMax networks). The term “transmission medium” shall be taken toinclude any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding orcarrying instructions for execution by the machine, and includes digitalor analog communications signals or other intangible media to facilitatecommunication of such software.

Although an embodiment has been described with reference to specificexample embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications andchanges may be made to these embodiments without departing from thebroader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense. The accompanying drawings that form a parthereof, show by way of illustration, and not of limitation, specificembodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. Theembodiments illustrated are described in sufficient detail to enablethose skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein.Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such thatstructural and logical substitutions and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure. This Detailed Description,therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope ofvarious embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along withthe full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for conducting a video conference,the apparatus comprising: a processor; and memory to store instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to performoperations comprising: generating an image of one or more sets of eyesfrom a reflection of the one or more sets of eyes off a reflectiveelement with an image capture device that is aimed at the reflectiveelement without being aimed at the one or more sets of eyes; determininga location of the one or more sets of eyes in the image; and changing alocation of the reflective element based on the location of the one ormore sets of eyes in the image, the reflective element comprising apartially reflective plane that is oriented to reflect the one or moresets of eyes toward the image capture device.
 2. The apparatus of claim1, the operations further comprising changing a location of the imagecapture device based on the determined location of the one or more setsof eyes in the image.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thereflective element is disposed between the one or more sets of eyes anda display, the reflective element comprising a partially reflectiveplane that is oriented at about 45 degrees relative to a plane of thedisplay.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein changing the location ofthe reflective element further comprises moving the reflective elementtowards or away from the display.
 5. An apparatus for conducting a videoconference, the apparatus comprising: a first controllable track forchanging a location of a reflective element, the reflective elementoriented to reflect one or more sets of eyes toward an image capturedevice, the image capture device aimed at the reflective element withoutbeing aimed at the one or more sets of eyes; and an image processingdevice for determining a location of the one or more sets of eyes in theimage.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an image capturedevice carrier for carrying the image capture device.
 7. The apparatusof claim 6, further comprising a second controllable track configured tochange a location of the image capture device carrier.
 8. The apparatusof claim 5, wherein the image capture device is configured to pan towardthe location of at least one of the one or more sets of eyes.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 5, wherein the changing operation changes a locationof the image capture device based on the determined location of the oneor more sets of eyes in the image.
 10. The apparatus of claim 5, whereinthe determining operation determines the location of the one or moresets of eyes based on a direction of a source of speech.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the one or more set ofeyes corresponds to a video conference participant, wherein thereflective element is disposed between the one or more sets of eyes anda display. the reflective element comprising a partially reflectiveplane that is oriented at about 45 degrees relative to a plane of thedisplay.
 12. A method for conducting a video conference, the methodcomprising: generating an image of one or more sets of eyes from areflection of the one or more sets of eyes off a reflective element withan image capture device that is aimed at the reflective element withoutbeing aimed at the one or more sets of eyes; determining a location ofthe one or more sets of eyes in the image; and changing a location ofthe reflective element based on the location of the one or more sets ofeyes in the image, the reflective element comprising a partiallyreflective plane that is oriented to reflect the one or more sets ofeyes toward the image capture device.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the determining operation determines the location of the one ormore sets of eyes based on a direction of a source of speech.
 14. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising panning the image capture devicetoward the location of at least one of the one or more sets of eyes. 15.The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the one or more set ofeyes corresponds to a video conference participant.
 16. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the changing operation changes a location of the imagecapture device based on the determined location of the one or more setsof eyes in the image.
 17. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumembodying instructions that when executed by a processor, performoperations comprising: generating an image of one or more sets of eyesfrom a reflection of the one or more sets of eyes off a reflectiveelement with an image capture device that is aimed at the reflectiveelement without being aimed at the one or more sets of eves; determininga location of the one or more sets of eyes in the image; and changing alocation of the reflective element based on the location of the one ormore sets of eyes in the image, the reflective element comprising apartially reflective plane that is oriented to reflect the one or moresets of eyes toward the image capture device.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the determining operationdetermines the location of the one or more sets of eyes based on adirection of a source of speech.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 17, the operations further comprisingpanning the image capture device toward at least one of the one or moresets of eyes.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim17, wherein the changing operation changes a location of the imagecapture device.